Inactivating and damaging properties of the disinfectant "MultiDez" when exposed to bacteria and spores

Vladimir Nikolaevich Gerasimov; Lyudmila Aleksandrovna Kraeva; Dmitrij Anatol'evich Svetlov; Ajgul' Ravilovna Gajtrafimova; Elena Vladimirovna Bystrova; Sergej Anatol'evich Kotov; Daniil Dmitrievich Svetlov

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21590

Inactivating and damaging properties of the disinfectant "MultiDez" when exposed to bacteria and spores

Heliyon. 2023 Nov 3;9(11):e21590. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21590. eCollection 2023 Nov.

Authors

Vladimir Nikolaevich Gerasimov¹, Lyudmila Aleksandrovna Kraeva², Dmitrij Anatol'evich Svetlov³, Ajgul' Ravilovna Gajtrafimova¹, Elena Vladimirovna Bystrova¹, Sergej Anatol'evich Kotov¹, Daniil Dmitrievich Svetlov⁴

Affiliations

¹ State Scientific Center of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology of Rospotrebnadzor, 142279, Serpukhov, Obolensk Settlement, Territory "Quarter A", House №24, Moscow Region, Russia.
² Pasteur Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, 14 Mira Street, 197101, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
³ Soft Protector LLC, Khimikov Str., 28, Litera C, Room C1591, 195030, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
⁴ Peter the Great St. Petersburg Institute, Higher School of Biotechnology and Food Production, 48 Novorossiyskaya Str., 194021, Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Abstract

Disinfectants play a crucial role in controlling the spread of infectious diseases caused by bacteria and spore-forming organisms. Bacteria and spores can persist on surfaces and in the environment for extended periods, posing a significant risk to public health. Disinfectants are designed to inactivate or kill these microorganisms by disrupting their cellular structures and functions. Effective disinfectants are essential for preventing the spread of infectious diseases in hospitals, laboratories, food processing facilities, and other settings where the risk of contamination is high. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a disinfectant called "MultiDez" on Y.pestis bacteria and Bacillus anthracis spores using microbiological and electron microscopic methods. Results showed that after exposure to a 0.5 % solution of the disinfectant, the death of all Y.pestis bacteria was achieved after 90 min, while the death of Bacillus anthracis spores was achieved after 240 min. Electron microscopy revealed that the disinfectant caused complete destruction of both bacterial cells and spores by enveloping their outer surfaces with polymer molecules, disrupting the structure and function of their membranes, and destroying their cytoplasm and nucleode. The mechanism of action of the disinfectant on bacteria and spores involved different processes, with the disinfectant causing rapid hydration of dehydrated spores and blocking the functions of spore membranes in the case of bacterial spores.

Keywords: Bacterial spores; Disinfectant; Electron microscopic research methods; Microbiological methods; Ultrastructure of cells; Ultrastructure of spores.